It was not immediately clear whether Williamson would be landing a signature shoe with his dealNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Pelicans F Zion Williamson's deal with Jordan Brand is for seven years and $75M, according to a source cited by Adam Zagoria of FORBES (7/23). In DC, Des Bieler notes for "comparison purposes," LeBron James signed a seven-year, $87M deal with Nike in '03. Williamson "arrives in the league as arguably the most-hyped prospect since James." Rockets G Russell Westbrook and Thunder G Chris Paul "have signature lines with Jordan Brand, but as an ascendant superstar, Williamson can quickly become the face of the brand." Other recent additions to the Jordan Brand roster include Celtics F Jayson Tatum and rookie Wizards F Rui Hachimura (WASHINGTON POST, 7/24). ESPN's Nick DePaula reported Williamson "ultimately turned down a higher offer from Puma" and as much as $15M annually from Chinese brands Li-Ning and Anta "in order to wear Michael Jordan's brand." Jordan yesterday launched digital billboards featuring Williamson declaring "Kingdom Come" in N.Y., L.A. and New Orleans ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 7/23). CNBC's Sara Eisen noted the Williamson signing is "definitely a coup for the Jordan Brand and for Nike." Eisen: "This is what sells their sneakers, major players" ("Closing Bell," CNBC, 7/23).
NO NEWS ON SIGNATURE SHOE: In New Orleans, Nathan Brown noted it was "not immediately clear whether Williamson would be landing a signature shoe" with his deal. Only two rookies -- James in '03 and Lonzo Ball in '17 -- have "garnered signature shoe deals" over the last 20-plus seasons. Fewer than 20 active players owned "signature shoe deals across the league last season" (NOLA.com, 7/23). FS1's Nick Wright said he was "surprised" with the decision because he thought Williamson "might, a la LeBron, Durant, Kyrie, Paul George, get his own signature line as opposed" to being folded into the Jordan Brand. Wright: "I thought that would be Nike's biggest selling point" ("First Things First," FS1, 7/24).
TAKING UP THE MANTLE: GQ's Cam Wolf wrote Jordan Brand is "entrusting Williamson with revitalizing its brand." Jordan Brand's "biggest NBA names" include Westbrook and Tatum, but the brand's "biggest and by far most important asset remains its namesake." Jordan Brand's "most successful shoes are the retro versions it puts out every year." However, Williamson's presence "could offer a way forward for the sneaker company that doesn't rely solely on recycling the hits" (GQ.com, 7/23). ESPN's Jorge Sedano said the signing is "great for the Jordan Brand." Sedano: "If you really look at their guys in their roster right now, the superstars that are there are guys who are a little long in the tooth. ... Now they've got a potential new face in Zion." The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw said it "doesn't matter how old Michael Jordan is, that name, that logo, that's what kids are into." The Washington Post's Kevin Blackistone: "Jordan is still the premier brand" ("Around the Horn," ESPN, 7/23).
OTHER SHOE DROPS: USA TODAY's Dan Wolken writes Williamson was "quite simply a player Nike couldn't afford to lose." If anything, Williamson's "negotiating position with Nike was only strengthened" by the incident during the North Carolina-Duke game in February. The "viral image of him on the ground with that shoe torn away from his foot was a potential disaster for Nike." The idea of Williamson playing "on behalf of Adidas or Puma or some Chinese company trying to gain a foothold in the American sneaker market" would have been a "real potential cost to Nike's business" (USA TODAY, 7/24). ESPN Radio's Dan Le Batard said, "Once that shoe exploded on Zion Williamson's foot, Nike said to itself, 'We will not be outbid by anyone for this person.' What a great leverage for your agent to have" ("The Dan Le Batard Show," ESPN Radio, 7/23). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said the moment Williamson blew out his shoe, Nike "probably came up with a strategy because they figured everybody saw our shoe fail." Kornheiser: "If this kid signs with us and forgives us that, we give him all the money he wants" ("PTI," ESPN, 7/23). Blackistone said when the shoe "blew out, you knew that Nike was going to have to back up the Brinks truck and another Brinks truck and another Brinks truck -- and they should for marketing purposes to keep Zion in their shoes" ("Around the Horn," ESPN, 7/23).
